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FONTES: 29 Good Practices from 9 European Countries for Social Inclusion Through Sport

| Fontes

The European project FONTES presents the Research Report on Good Practices entitled "Sport, Faith and Belonging: Social Integration through Sport in Multicultural and Multi-Faith Europe", which examines the connection between sport, faith, diversity, and social inclusion in modern Europe.

The report gathers 29 good practices from 9 countries, capturing the experiences and perspectives of people who are active on the ground daily: coaches, faith-based organizations, volunteers, young people, and workers in reception facilities.

The objective of the research is to highlight what happens in practice in sports clubs, social organizations, and local communities, and to explore the conditions under which sport can effectively function as a vehicle for social inclusion.

Key Findings

The research highlights that sport alone does not automatically lead to social inclusion; rather, it requires proper design, qualified personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills, and collaboration among sports, social, and institutional entities.

At the same time, the report underlines the significant role played by faith-based organizations in implementing field actions, as well as the need to create programs that genuinely take into account the participation conditions for women and girls.

Special emphasis is also placed on the importance of knowing and understanding diverse religious and cultural needs as a vital, yet currently underutilized, skill for those working in the fields of sports and social inclusion.

A European Collaboration

FONTES is implemented through a partnership among organizations from various European countries, bringing together sports, civil society, research, and local community organizations.

Olympiacos is also participating in the project, contributing to the implementation and dissemination of its actions and outcomes, as well as highlighting sports as a space for cooperation, participation, and social inclusion.

The partners of the FONTES project are:

  • European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) – Belgium

  • International Centre for Sport Security Europe Associação (ICSS Europe) – Portugal

  • Arcidiocesi di Napoli – Italy

  • Olympiacos Syndesmos Filathlon Pireos (OLYMPIACOS) – Greece

  • Fundació Brafa – Spain

  • Internationaler Sportclub (ISC) AlHilal Bonn e.V. – Germany

  • Club Deportivo Elemental Dragones de Lavapiés – Spain

Presentation of Results in an Online Webinar

As part of presenting and disseminating the research findings, FONTES will host an online webinar on Monday, October 5, 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00.

During this online session, stakeholders and representatives from diverse sectors will have the opportunity to discover the research findings and engage in discussion around the practical and institutional dimensions of social inclusion through sport.

The program will feature two panel discussions:

  1. First Panel: Focuses on the experiences of individuals and organizations active in the field and how social inclusion is achieved in practice.

  2. Second Panel: Examines the role of institutions, policymakers, research, and funding in the next steps forward.

The webinar will be conducted in English with live captioning.

  • Date: Monday, October 5, 2026

  • Time: 18:00–20:00

  • Format: Online

  • Language: English, with live captioning